Learn about the NAVSO P-5239-26 method

NAVSO P-5239-26 is a software-based Data Sanitization method used in various file shredder and data shredder programs to overwrite existing information on a hard drive or other storage device.

Erasing your hard drive with the NAVSO P-5239-26 method will prevent all software-based file recovery methods from getting the information from the drive, and also prevent most hardware-based recovery methods. extract information.

How does NAVSO P-5239-26 method work?

Methods to delete data NAVSO P-5239-26 are usually carried out in the following way:

1. 1st time - Override a character (e.g. 1)
2. 2nd - Override another character (e.g. 0)
3. 3rd - Overwrite a random character and verify the record

The NAVSO P-5239-26 method that the article listed above is the standard way that most data destruction programs perform. However, according to actual specification, this is a less effective alternative.

Preferred method involves a more complex type of override.

Erasing the hard drive with the NAVSO P-5239-26 method will prevent all software-based file recovery methods from retrieving the information from the drive.

Origin of NAVSO P-5239-26

The NAVSO P-5239-26 method was originally defined in Navy Staff Office Publication 5239 Module 26: Information Systems Security Program Guidelines , published by the US Navy.

You can read the Data Sanitization specification of NAVSO P-5239-26 in sections 3.3.c.1 and 3.3.c.2 of NAVSO 5239-26 by following the link:

https://fas.org/irp/doddir/navy/5239_26.htm

It is unclear whether the US Navy is still using NAVSO P-5239-26 as a software-based data deletion standard.

In fact, most data destruction programs support a variety of data deletion methods besides NAVSO P-5239-26.